NEW MARKET — The call. The execution. The celebration. Southmont football controlled the destiny of their season and were going to let them determine the outcome in Friday’s Class 2A Sectional 37 semi-final against Cascade. What resulted was one that will be talked about for quite awhile for the Mounties. Overtime was needed as after four quarters the two teams were deadlocked at 14-14. Cascade needed just one play to score from the 10-yard line and took a 21-14 lead. The Mountie offense then responded with a a four-yard TD pass from Nolan Boyer to a wide open Aaron McMasters. The Mounties could smell the win and decided to try and win the game with a two-point try. They put their season in the hands of senior fullback Wyatt Woodall, who wouldn’t be denied and churned forward into the endzone for the successful conversion to give Southmont a 22-21 the win and a spot in the sectional title game.
“I went to them in the huddle and my thought was we get to decide the outcome of the game right here,” Southmont coach Desson Hannum said of the decision to go for two. “The decision for me was made after Cascade kicked the extra point after their score. We as a team came to a consensus that we wanted to go for it and Wyatt was simply not going to be denied. He went behind the left side of our o-line with Waylon (Gomez) and Kasey (Line) and said we’re going to win or lose the game with the strength of our team. “
Cascade (6-5) used their run heavey, clock dominating offense to chew up six minutes and 10 second of their opening drive using 14 plays to score the games first touchdown when Dayton Mink ran it in from three yards out. Then as halftime approached and the Mounties still yet to crack the scoreboard, Boyer and the Mountie offense engineered an 80-yard drive in which he found Aaron McMasters in the back corner of the end zone for an eight yard score with just 18 seconds left on the clock.
“They essentially had the ball the entire first half because we went punted on our first two drives,” Hannum said. “For us to be able to go down right before half when we knew we were getting the ball to begin the second half, was a huge momentum boost for us. “
Southmont (6-5) got the ball and churned out six minutes and 54 seconds of their own on their way to taking the lead when Avery Stadler ran it in from three yards out to give the Mounties a 14-7 advantage. Cacade made the score 14-14 on a QB sneak with 9:23 left in the game and that score helf firm until the overtime period.
The Mounties had been in this exact position for two straight years and come up short. This time, Southmont finally broke through and will now play for a sectional championship.
“Every single member of this team fought so incredibly hard tonight,” Woodall said after the thrilling victory. “We’re such a tight knit group and the ups and downs of this season have made us even stronger. We’ve created a culture these last three years of hard work and dedication. I have to give a huge shoutout to Avery Stadler who played his tail off. That kid has stepped up for us the last two weeks at fullback and as a sophomore has played phenomenal. You add in what Aaron, Nolan, and Kyler did too and I’m just so proud of everyone on this team.”
With the win the Mounties will now see an all-too familiar opponent in an all-too place. No. 1 Linton Stockton came from behind to defeat Greencastle 26-21 and that means the Mounties will be back down in Linton next week with all the marbles at stake. A season ago Southmont nearly did the un-thinkable and almost orchestrated a comeback win over the Miners in what ended up being a 35-29 season-ending defeat.
Both Hannum and Woodall are hoping that this time around, this team can be the one that hands South a sectional title.
“It’s going to be a sweet ending to this story,” Woodall said. “We as a team have gotten better all season long and it feels like this team is destined to be special. We’re going to re-write the history books and avenge last year’s loss and bring home a sectional title to Southmont.”
Southmont 22, Cascade 21 OT
Score By Quarter
CAS 7 0 0 7 7 — 21
SM 0 7 7 0 8 — 22
Scoring Summary
1Q
Cascade: Dayton Mink 3 yd run, XP Good; 5:50
2Q
Southmont: Aaron McMasters 8 yd pass from Nolan Boyer, XP Good; 18.3
3Q
Southmont: Avery Stadler 3 yd run, XP Good; 5:06
4Q
Cascade: Brady Trebly 1 yd run, XP Good; 9:23
1st OT
Cascade: Dayton Mink 10 yd run, XP Good
Southmont: Aaron McMasters 4 yd pass from Nolan Boyer,Wyatt Woodall successful conversion
Team Stats
CASSM
Total Yds 195 199
Passing Yds 12 98
Rushing Yds 183 101
1st Downs 16 9
Turnovers 0 0
Penalties 2-10 4-32
Individual Stats
Rushing: Cascade (Dayton Mink 28-118 2TD, Damien Appleby 11-45, Lucas Farmer 2-13, Brady Trebly 7-6, Caiden Clements 2-3, Team 1-1, Toby Savini 1-(-1), Tyler Hege 2-(-2); Southmont (Avery Stadler 14-36 TD, Kyler McCandless 7-29, Nolan Boyer 4-24, Marlin Williams 2-6, Wyatt Woodall 3-6
Receiving: Cascade (Lucas Farmer 1-12); Southmont (Kyler McCandless 4-53, Aaron McMasters 3-38 2TD, Avery Stadler 1-6)
Passing: Cascade (Brady Trebly 1-2 13); Southmont (Nolan Boyer 8-13 98 2TD)
